Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Watch the Rovers Ahead on-line show that was broadcasted live on Wednesday 30th My 2012 at 20:00 CET:

From Rovers Ahead FB page:

"Today we celebrate 5 years as a band! Since nobody ever comes out to a show on a wednesday, we decided to bring the show to your living room! So tune in tonight at 20:00 CET, to catch an exclusive livestream of an acoustic Rovers Ahead show right on this page!"

Bill Grogan’s Goat, the band from Detroit that was featured on our March 2010 sampler, released their second album “Second Wind” at the end of 2011. The album got a rave review at Shite’n’Onions and it reached no. 5 at Grinning Beggar’s Best of The Rest Artist & Albums 2011. This is a good background, but I had to give some spins to the CD in order to verify if I seconded those opinions.

When an album full of traditional/Celtic standards is released, the songs have to get a different treatment to become interesting. If the band offers the usual songs with the usual arrangements, the listeners will find them boring. But if the musicians re-arrange the songs and record their own renditions, then the fans will appreciate them. Some good examples are Icewagon Flu and The Pubcrawlers on their recent split with The Ousiders.

So, have Bill Grogan’s Goat succeed or have they failed? They have really succeeded. Why? Because their album is a sure bet: guitars, guitars and more guitars. And the addition of a great deal of pipes, fiddle and tin whistle performed by multi-instrumentalist Mindy Whalen.

Regarding the track listing, one can say that most of the tracks have been covered by a lot of bands. That’s true, particularly “The Foggy Dew”, “Danny Boy” and “Drunken Sailor” can be found on different albums that have been released in 2012. But you should remember that Bill Grogan’s Goat released this album before those albums were issued.

If I had to choose the best moments of the album, these would be the numbers that I would pick : the two sets of tunes on the album, “Pumpkin’s Fancy” (bagpipes on this) and “Stress Bay” ( a top-notch Scottish set featuring excellent fiddle and guitar arrangements); “Cam Ye O’er Frae France” (Mindy sings and plays the pipes on a cover as good as the Steeleye Span's version) and “Galway Races" (a fantastic work on this song: fiddle, guitar parts …)

Anyway, there are other songs that deserve to be heard: “Waxie’s Dargle” (kick-ass guitar version featuring “The Siege of Ennis” polka at the end), a funky version of “Whiskey You’re the Devil” and “The Mermaid” (a song that was covered by Fiddler’s Green in 1995)

If you like the mix of Celtic music with the Detroit r’n’r tradition, then Bill Grogan’s Goat “Second Wind” won’t disappoint you.

O’Tasty is a 7 piece band from Washington DC: guitar, mandolin, flute, fiddle, accordion, bass and drums. “A Proper Introduction”
is their debut album after an EP that was released in 2007. These guys
play a very interesting Celtic rock with a punk twist. In fact, there
are two things on this album that have drawn my attention. First of all,
O’Tasty have recorded 12 tracks and no Celtic standard has made it on
the album. Secondly, a live atmosphere can be felt all along the album
and this is due to a tight rhythm section and the sound of the fiddle
and, specially, of the flute.

Some numbers like “Steady Barry” and “Fallen” are catchy songs that Celtic punk fans will enjoy immediately. The former is a great song and there is a sort of a tribute to Great Big Sea’s cover of Slade's “Run Run Away” (the beginning is the same). The latter is a Pogues infused song that will make you dance and drink. Other songs that follow the same path are the opening track “Patsy O’Connell” and “Nova Riots” (one of my faves)

But, apart from these songs, there are other numbers that shine out. For instance, “Africa” (probably the best track on the album), “Love is a Bottle of Gin” (a song featuring trumpet and clarinet. A crooner or a Billy Bragg style song?) and the instrumental “Back in the Barn”.

Even if O’Tasty
are not so raucous as the average Celtic punk fan like, I must admit
that I have really enjoyed their music and their approach. Neither Dropkick Murphys wannabes, nor Flogging Molly copycats. Own songwriting, one instrumental, some Christy Moore echoes on some tracks and no Celtic standard cover . Hats-off lads!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

"We're officially sold out of "Flag's at Half Mast". As a gift to all of you that have supported the Tartan Hearts over the years, we've posted the album in it's entirety on Bandcamp as a "pay what you can", download.

Note that if you choose not to donate you can download the album for free. Just do us a favour and share the link with your friends ... cheers!"

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Grinning Beggar has added a forums section to their website and would love some help get it rolling. There are sections for musicians, bands, festivals and record labels among others. Come give it a looking at and help a brother out !

In January 2012, we had our first performance with our full 5-piece band and have been working hard ever since. With Michael on Guitar/Vocals, Hannah on Accordion/Penny Whistle, Derek on Drums, Drew on Bass and Trevor on Lead Guitar, there is so much creative and diverse energy, I don't know how to describe it; I guess you just need to hear it.

To help that happen, we are in the studio right now! Drum and Bass tracks are done and we are working with engineers, graphic designers, photographers and other professionals to make sure our album looks and sounds great and is available by this summer's Irish Festivals.

Our new album will be called “The Devil or the Barrel” and we are loving it so far! We have more original songs than ever before and with your help, we will be releasing this CD in July 2012. With songs about travel, touring, drinking & heartbreak, this album offers a deep but aggressive look into the band, but also there are all original compositions of some old favorites that turn great old standards on their ear. We know we have your moral support, but we could really use your financial support also. Please take a look at our reward levels of support and see what fits in your budget. You’re gonna buy the CD anyway, right? Why not pre-order, get it before the general public and have it autographed by all five members?

Thank you for your consideration and for supporting independent, local art.

Filmed during our triumphant 4 day residency at Apres in Cheltenham during Gold Cup week. Hope you love it as much as we did making it, many thanks to FilmCalling for their work on this - Crow n Roll!! xx

Monday, May 21, 2012

While it seems like a slow month for Lexington Field standards, that is just an illusion. Three things to share with you:

First, Bryan had knee surgery in the beginning of the month and is home recovering. He is grumpier than usual, but we will blame the pain on that! The surgery was successful and he will be back up walking very soon and rocking out with us!

Second, we have two awesome shows this month. One is All-Ages and one is 21+, and both of them will rock. Tomorrow, May 19, we will take the stage over at The Park Gallery to play a free, all-ages show with ska punk bands Abject, Thanks Jack, and Bucket of Fish. We are going to throw a little American Fiddle Rock to mix things up for the kids to dance and mosh too. Then, next week, on Memorial Day Eve (Sunday, May 27) we return to the Belly Up Tavern play one of our biggest shows of the year with the amazing Johnny Cash tribute band, CASH'D OUT! Tickets are only $16 and this going to be the best way to highlight your Memorial Day Weekend!

Last but not least, if you have been peaking around our website, Facebook page, Twitter or talked to us in person, you will know that we have been extremely busy putting together our first national tour which will be taking place in August! We are finalizing all the details and will be setting up a Kickstarter campaign to help raise the last funds needed to make this tour happen. Stay tuned over the next couple weeks as we announce details for our upcoming 2012 Midwest Missile Tour!

After a couple of digital singles (“Irish Rover” and “Hairy Grizzly”), “No Offence” is the impressive debut by the Slovenian band Happy Ol’ McWeasel. A 10 track digipack album produced by Martin Beziak and the band and mastered by Finnish magician Mika Jussila.

Given that Happy Ol’ McWeasel got more than a cult following on the Internet thanks to their videos on YouTube, this was probably the most awaited 2012 release. And after having given several spins to the six originals and four trad standards on the album, I have a sort of a bittersweet feeling. I keep on wondering why they have only included 6 originals when the quality of their self-penned songs is so high.

I can be wrong, but I feel that an excellent new band like Happy Ol’ McWeasel that is interested in foreign markets should choose a better balance. For instance, 70% or 80% originals and 30% or 20% standards. Besides, they should try to avoid the usual covers. Unfortunately for Happy Ol’ McWeasel, they have chosen some songs that have been recently covered by other bands (Scally Cap Brats, In Search of a Rose, Firkin, The Pubcrawlers and Bill Grogan’s Goat)

Anyway, let’s focus on the best things and forget about personal preferences. I have said that their own songs are amazing and it’s true. Everybody knows “Hairy Grizzly” a kick-ass song featuring accordion, viola and a top-notch guitar work. The opening track, “No Offence”, is another highlight with great banjo, accordion and more rocking guitars. “Murphy’s Law” can be filed together with Drink Hunters best material and the closing number, “Better Times”, is probably the gem on the album, superb Celtic soul infused by the Belfast Lion (Van Morrison) or Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Regarding the covers, I feel that the most interesting number is “Drunken Sailor”, featuring the instrumental “Drowsy Maggie”.

Sorry for the rant. “No Offence” will be included in all the best of 2012 top ten lists. But it could have been the best album of the year with a better balanced track list. Anyway, I’m happy to see that new awesome bands keep on coming from old Europe. Welcome lads!

Friday, May 18, 2012

The Cujo Family hale from Bray and Dublin. They have been regulars in the Dublin Music scene now for the past years and have gathered up a dedicated following. Their gigs are high energy, stomping sessions with interludes of reflective balladry. They are both rawkus and wistful with a keen sense for the air of a tune.

“Igyunk pálinkat” is the title of the third album released by the Hungarian band Firkin. A front cover similar to that of their debut album, but in orange instead of green. Twelve songs sung in their mother tongue and almost all of them can be found on their previous albums. A best-of after only two albums? Not at all. The excellent band from Budapest have decided to give a new lease of life to their songs and, at the same time, to pay tribute to their loyal Hungarian fan base. PJ and his band mates have got a great success all over Europe (and overseas) but this could not have happened without the enthusiastic support of their local fans.

So, Firkin have taken eleven songs from “Firkinful of Beer” and “Whup!” together with a new track, "Kék volt az égbolt" (“The Foggy Dew”), and have put Hungarian lyrics to all of them. The new lyrics are not a translation of the original ones, but new lyrics dealing with Hungarian and Transylvanian themes. This new twist can be found on the music too. All the songs have been remixed and remastered and new guests have made them different from the previous versions. A new Hungarian atmosphere floats all over the album. Lili plays acoustic fiddle instead of electric violin. Another Hungarian folk fiddler, Pál István “Szalonna”, is also responsible of this new Hungarian music twist. Jamie Winchester has played acoustic guitar on a couple of tracks and, finally, Ganxsta Zolee is the rapper on the brand new version of “Blood for Blood” ("Rettenthetetlen").

The band is particularly proud of the track no. 10 “A Jó ég megáld”, a totally reworked “Wild Rover” with a guitar and bass solo that they have renamed “The Wildest Rover”. They are so happy with this new version that they intend to include it on their 4th album in English. Yes, don’t worry, the next album will be in English again.

After this new Firkin release my feelings about this band are stronger. They are one of the most intelligent bands out there: great musicianship, excellent rocking arrangements, a huge knowledge of Irish ballads and tunes and a respect for both Hungarian and Irish tradition. A few bands record songs with two fiddlers: Altan, Firkin …These guys are clever enough to do exactly what others have never thought about.

Now, let’s enjoy “Igyunk pálinkat”.And don't miss Firkin live if they are playing at a festival near your home.

The Roving Crows won two Irish Music Association awards at the last edition (2011): Top Celtic rock band and Top fiddle player. The band consists of Paul O’Neill (guitar, vocals and songwriting), Caitlin Barrett (fiddle, arrangements and vocals), Tim Tolhurst (percussion) and Greg Wilson-Copp (trumpet and vocals), together with a guest bass player. “Bacchanalia” is their first recording after having got those awards and the title states clearly what the listener can expect: fun, fun and fun.

Yes, you’re right, this is not the typical Celtic rock line-up. In fact, the band plays several styles, for instance ska on “Love is the Finest Thing” and klezmer on “Days in the Sun”. Therefore, it’s normal that The Roving Crows are crowd favourites at the British and Irish festivals circuit.

In the late 80’s early 90’s there was an English label that was mainly focused on modern folk bands: Cooking Vinyl. If the label would have followed that approach instead of becoming an indie label, The Roving Crows would be the best addition to their catalogue. Their catchy songs and the combination of fiddle and trumpet make me think of that excellent band called The Barely Works.

Check out the following tracks: “Dirty Habbits” (maybe the most energetic number on the CD), “Roll on Tomorrow” (a K-Passa style song), the opening track “Long Time Dead” and “Love is the Finest Thing”. The two sets of tunes (tracks 4 and 9) are really brilliant. They are so good that I feel that they should have included another one at the end of the album.

The album was produced with producer Nick Brine (Oasis, Bruce Springsteen …) and the packaging (digipack) includes great pics of the band members, full credits and a booklet with all the lyrics.

If you live contemporary British folk-rock and can imagine a band merging both 3 Daft Monkeys and La Bottine Souriante, then grab your copy of "Bacchanalia".

Tracklist:

1. Long Time Dead 3:182. Love is the Finest Thing 3:263. Roll on Tomorrow 5:294. White Petticoat 4:555. Time 3:486. That Was Then 6:077. Brother 3:458. Woman After My Own Heart 5:319. President Garfield’s Night Out 4:0110. Dirty Habits 3:2711. Days in the Sun 4:1712. More Than One 4:27